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You wouldn't spend years sitting on the couch eating chips and expect your body to be in good health, would you? Would you also expect your car to be in good condition if you neglected it for years? The truth is, we need to take care of our things. And you can save a lot of money by taking care of your car. Here is my top 5 list for saving money on car repairs (and keeping up your resale value.)

#1 Perform all scheduled maintenanceAir Filters, brake pads, transmission fluids, fans, alternators, oil filters, belts, fuses, lights, windshield wipers, spark plugs.... This is just a small list of the things that need to be maintained and that can easily fail. Having your car routinely checked out can save you on major headaches in the future. #2 Keep it cleanWhy would you spend thousands of dollars on a vehicle, just to use it as your trash heap? If your kids throw cheerios on the floor, pick them up! Or better yet, have a no eating in the car policy (that will keep your car clean and help your waistline!).

I have a friend that let her children stick gum all over the seats in her brand new minivan. Her husband ended up cutting the gum out of the seats. What a waste! Their car lost a tremendous amount of value when they cut apart the seats. And you lose value by letting snow and ice rust your exterior. Or dirt and grime cause chips and dents. And your car loses tremendous resale value if it's filthy or smells inside. Even imagine the customers/friends you might lose if they step into a dirty mess of a car.#3 Keep your gas tank and tires fullRunning out of gas will cost you big time. It may destroy your engine, but it will certainly destroy your day. You'll be late. You'll have to pay a fine or a fee for assistance. Plus keeping your tank low, makes it harder to start your car in the winter - putting extra stress on the starter and engine.

Filling your tires makes sure you get the optimum gas mileage. And it means you're checking the tires regularly for damage. A few months ago, I noticed a bulge in one of my tires and $170 later, I was told that it was only a matter of days before that tire would have blew out. I would have been stranded. My rims and axles could have also been damaged, and if I was on the freeway, it's possible I could have been involved in a collision or serious accident.#4 Drive responsibly and respectfully.

If you drive like a maniac, it goes without saying that you are risking your life and the lives of others. But you are also guzzling more gasoline and risking damage to your vehicle. You are also risking a ticket from the police - and the resulting increase in your insurance premiums.

Driving is a privilege, not a right. Show respect on the road!

#5 Keep your Insurance up-to-date and make sure you have enough insurance!Make sure you keep your insurance up-to-date and make sure you have enough coverage! I can not stress this enough. About 10 years ago, my sister was in a collision while driving my car.

Luckily for her, I had full coverage. But not really good full coverage. She endured broken bones, surgeries, rehabilitation, and a lasting disability. In the end, she was never made whole. But it could have been worse. Know what it means to have good insurance, and make the phone call.You can also save by preparing for future needs by signing up for programs like the Allstate Good Hands Roadside Assistance program.

It's a service offering pay-as-you-go roadside assistance. You don't need to have Allstate insurance to use this service, there are no monthly fees (you only pay when you use it!) and it's easy to sign up. You can sign up for free below:

By pre-registering, you will receive a welcome kit in the mail containing a wallet card, key fob, and window cling with the phone number for roadside help. You'll have the help available in case anything comes up.So what are you waiting for? You can sign up using the widget today! And even better - Allstate is offering one Suburban Jungle reader a $50 Amazon Gift Card. To Enter: Share your best piece of advice for keeping your car in top operating condition. Leave your answer in the comments below - this is a mandatory first entry and must be completed before any other entries.Bonus Entries:

For 2 extra entries - Leave a comment when youRegister for the Allstate Roadside Assistance Program (it's free - just use the widget above and enter your email address)below telling me that you signed up. (I will tally the entries)

For 2 extra entries - Leave a comment when youDownload the mobile app and comment that you downloaded it

For 1 extra entry - Leave a comment with your link url if you share this giveaway on Facebook (through the widget or by including this link)

*This contest will end on August 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM EST. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. This contest is being handled by me and the gift card is being donated by Allstate/Good Hands Roadside Assistance. This is a sponsored post.Tweet

Don't skimp on the routine maintenance! Find an independent mechanic you can trust and listen to his recommendations, especially any information he gives about upcoming things you'll need to do - that way, you can budget for it and it's not quite as bad!spehcialk at aol dot com

Don't wait till the very end to refill your car with gas. In some instances this can cause serious problems with the engine. Plus it isn't fun being stranded somewhere out in the pitch dark.crochet4hats[at]gmail[dot]com

Treat your car like your baby, if your baby needed to see a Doctor you would bring your baby in, so if your car needs to see the mechanic don't procrastinate, do it! Always check fluidsbec.shockley@gmail.com

My best advice is to take your car in regularly for all scheduled maintenance. I had a junker car last time, and I didn't follow that advice and I paid for it. I have a new car, now, and I am making service appointments a priority.

Every time we buy a new-to-us vehicle, we take it to be undercoated and then we follow up each year with the touch up (included in the original purchase price). This keeps salt and road dirt from eating away at the undercarriage and floors.

Well I guess mine would be to make sure you marry a guy where both his father and brother are mechanics, haha sad/bad I know but I know nothing about cars since I don't like driving muchdisintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

Routine maintenance like oil changes are very important, plus it has the added bonus of having an expert eye look at your vehicle and spotting potential problems before they escalate. For instance, on a routine oil change recently, the attendant pointed out a fan belt that was about ready to go. Saved me a LOT of hassle in the long run!

My husband is our car guy and he does a great job of keeping our cars in good driving condition. He checks the air in the tires regularly, gets the oil changed and even gases up both our cars. I love it!

Make sure that routine maintenance is performed on schedule. If you ever hear a strange noise or if something just doesn't feel right with the car, take it in and have it checked out, even if you are not sure that something is wrong.

My best tips would be to check your tire pressure and fluid levels regularly to make sure your car is operating properly, especially during summer and winter months or before long trips. I also suggest getting the tires rotated whenever you have your oil changed (and to go to a trusted mechanic or dealer to get oil changes rather than the quicky places, which I've had horrible experiences with). Thanks!

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